All articles tagged with #librarians
Originally Published 5 months ago — by TVLine
The article previews TV programming for August 4, 2025, including the finale of 'The Librarians: The Next Chapter,' the return of 'King of the Hill' on Hulu, and new episodes of 'American Ninja Warrior,' along with other shows across various networks.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Associated Press
Librarians across the US are facing increased challenges and potential legal penalties for distributing books deemed inappropriate, with some states enacting laws subjecting them to fines and even imprisonment. The trend has led to self-censorship and anxiety among educators and librarians, with conflicts often revolving around materials featuring racial and LGBTQ+ themes. Some lawmakers are seeking nationwide penalties and restrictions, while librarians and publishers have challenged the legality of these laws in court. The situation has led to the removal of numerous titles from school libraries and created a chilling effect on the distribution of certain books.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NPR
The battle over books in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, has escalated into harassment and threats against librarians defending a diverse selection of books. Librarians are being shouted down, vilified, and even reported to the police, leaving many fearing for their safety. The intense backlash has led to an exodus of librarians, leaving libraries short-staffed and driving up the human, civic, and financial costs of the battle over books.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Guardian US
A federal judge in Arkansas has temporarily blocked a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" materials to minors. The law, signed by the state's Republican governor, was set to take effect on August 1. The judge issued a preliminary injunction against the law, stating that fear of prosecution could lead to self-censorship by libraries and booksellers. The ACLU of Arkansas, which represents some of the plaintiffs, applauded the ruling, emphasizing the importance of protecting free speech rights. This lawsuit is part of a broader trend in conservative states seeking to restrict access to books, with the number of attempts to ban or restrict books reaching a 20-year high last year.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
A federal judge in Arkansas has temporarily blocked a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" materials to minors. The law, signed by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, would have also created a new process to challenge library materials. The judge's ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition that included the Central Arkansas Library System, arguing that the law could lead to self-censorship. The judge rejected a motion to dismiss the case and stated that the law violated the Constitution and wrongly targeted librarians. The decision is seen as a victory for First Amendment rights and a setback for conservative efforts to restrict access to books.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NPR
A federal judge in Arkansas has issued a preliminary injunction blocking a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" materials to minors. The law, signed by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, was set to take effect on August 1. The judge's decision also rejected a motion to dismiss the case and recognized the law as censorship and a violation of the Constitution. The lawsuit comes amid a growing number of conservative states pushing for measures to ban or restrict access to books, with last year seeing the highest number of attempts to ban or restrict books in 20 years.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
A federal judge in Arkansas has issued a preliminary injunction blocking a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" or "obscene" materials to minors. The law, signed by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, would have also created a process to challenge library materials and request their relocation. The judge's ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition that included the Central Arkansas Library System, arguing that the law could lead to self-censorship. The ACLU of Arkansas applauded the decision, stating that it protects First Amendment rights. Similar laws restricting access to books have been enacted in other states.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by POLITICO
A federal judge in Arkansas has issued a preliminary injunction blocking a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" materials to minors. The law, signed by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, would have also created a process to challenge library materials. The judge's decision was applauded by the ACLU, which argued that the law would have jeopardized First Amendment rights. The lawsuit comes amid a growing trend of conservative states pushing for measures to restrict access to books. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said his office would review the judge's opinion and continue to defend the law.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
A federal judge in Arkansas has issued a preliminary injunction blocking a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" materials to minors. The law, signed by Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, would have also created a new process to challenge library materials. The judge's ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition that included the Central Arkansas Library System, arguing that the fear of prosecution could lead to self-censorship. The ACLU of Arkansas, representing some of the plaintiffs, praised the court's decision, stating that it protects First Amendment rights. This case is part of a broader trend of conservative states seeking to restrict access to books.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by ABC News
A federal judge in Arkansas has issued a preliminary injunction blocking a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" materials to minors. The law, signed by the governor earlier this year, also aimed to create a process for challenging library materials. The judge's decision recognized the law as censorship and a violation of the Constitution, protecting First Amendment rights. The lawsuit comes amid a growing trend of conservative states pushing for measures to restrict access to books.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
Librarians gathered at the American Library Association's annual meeting in Chicago to receive training on how to fight book bans and legislative censorship. Attendees were encouraged to confidently counter book challenges and ensure the freedom to read. The ALA conference hosts thousands of librarians, library staff, authors, publishers, and educators as several states push to restrict access to books in schools and libraries, overwhelmingly those about race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ topics. The association in March released data showing a record 1,269 demands to censor library books in the U.S. in 2022, a 20-year high.